Elements of Earth: The Element Trials

Chapter 5a, 1959, Location Unknown, Kira: When A girl has to fight

"Wow." 3 breathed. Her hand sunk into the bed. "So you're really going through with it?"

"If I don't now, I don't know if I'll ever get the chance." I said.

"When is Dak-" Knocking interrupted 3.

"Just a second." I called out. "You have to go." I hissed to 3 and pointed to the other door.

"Have fun." 3 teased as she left the room.

Strange, 3 sounded supportive, but her smile, usually permanently affixed, seemed subdued. Not important. I sat on the bed, inhaling deeply before exhaling. "You can come in now."

"Salt said you wanted-" Dak stopped speaking when he opened the door enough to see me and the bed I laid across. His jaw dropped so hard it could have fallen off. I wanted to enjoy the moment, but privacy was key.

"Aren't you going to shut the door?"

Dak did turn and shut the door, swallowing audibly. When he turned around, he averted his eyes. "You wanted to see me 5?"

"Call me by my name Dak. I know you know it."

"What did you want Kira?"

"I want you to claim me. But since I've given you ample time to do so and you haven't, I'm going to claim you."

"If word gets out that you tried to claim me everyone will think your protection of 3 won't hold."

"Try?" I dismounted the bed and walked forward. "I'm not trying. I am claiming you." With each step, I close the distance. Closer. "Behind closed doors." And closer. "Just between us." Until our eyes meet. "You don't need my protection, so publicly my claim on 3 still stands."

"But Salt..." His words falter as my cheek brushes his, pulling him into an embrace.

"Salt won't tell a soul." I whisper in his ear. My trade with Salt got this bed, a real bed, as a down payment on his favor to me for two whole hours. Yet I feel in such a rush. "It's safe." A duality of meaning meant to spur him along. The first could mean Salt's people guarded the entrance. No one would disturb us. The second could be that this was the safest time in my cycle. But neither meanings seemed to comfort him.

"Wait." Dak held me back gently. He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him. Finally progress. But his next words had nothing to do with what I wanted. "I need to tell you something. I met a god when I was a boy."

"Is that what passes as pillow talk where you're from?" I groaned. It didn't even count as pillow talk. Pillow talk should happen after.

"You don't believe me?" He wasn't angry that I didn't believe him. Almost amused. His smile faded. "And I wouldn't know. I've never shared someone else's pillow. Not until now."

Change the subject, Kira. "How did you know he was a god?"

"It was during the Festival of Color."

"I heard you telling 4 about that." 4 had asked about the foods of the festival. "That's the one where people throw powdered dye at each other?"

"Yes. Even street rats like me were given handfuls of the stuff for free. I was having fun, throwing dye at pretty girls. At that point, it was impossible to find anyone that didn't look like a painting. But then I saw a man dressed in matte black mourning robes. I couldn't quite tell his age. He seemed old enough that he wasn't likely mourning the loss of a parent or elder. Maybe a sibling, his wife, or a child. He stuck out not only because of the lack of color in his clothes but the lack of colored dust upon them. At first, I thought that everyone, like myself, was simply being respectful to a man who was obviously in mourning. But instead, I realized no one saw him. Everyone was still throwing color everywhere. It was about to hit the man. I yelled in anguish for them to stop, but they did not hear me over their own voices. It was no matter besides. It did not touch him, except for the tears that fell from his eyes. Those were muddied with colors.